Mexico 1803–04 Alexander von Humboldt

silver mining complex of la valenciana, guanajuato, mexico



basalt prisms @ santa maría regla, mexico alexander von humboldt, published in vue des cordillères et monuments des peuples indigènes de l amérique



aztec calendar stone



dresden codex, later identified maya manuscript, published in part humboldt in 1810

humboldt , bonpland had not intended go new spain, when unable join voyage pacific, left ecuador s port of guayaquil , headed mexico s west coast port of acapulco, landing february 15, 1803. before humboldt , bonpland started on way new spain s capital on mexico s central plateau, humboldt realized captain of vessel brought them acapulco had reckoned location incorrectly. since acapulco main west coast port , terminus of asian trade spanish philippines, having accurate maps of location extremely important. humboldt set instruments, surveying deep water bay of acapulco, determine longitude.

humboldt , bonpland arrived in mexico city, having been officially welcomed via letter king s representative in new spain, viceroy don josé de iturrigaray. humboldt given special passport travel throughout new spain , letters of introduction intendants, highest officials in new spain s administrative districts (intendancies). official aid humboldt allowed him have access crown records, mines, landed estates, canals, , mexican antiquities prehispanic era. humboldt read writings of bishop-elect of important diocese of michoacan manuel abad y queipo, liberal, directed crown improvement of new spain.

they spent year in viceroyalty, traveling different mexican cities in central plateau , northern mining region. first journey acapulco mexico city, through mexican state of guerrero. route suitable mule train, , along way humboldt took measurements of elevation. when left mexico year later in 1804, east coast port of veracruz, took similar set of measures, resulted in chart in political essay, physical plan of mexico dangers of road acapulco mexico city, , mexico city veracruz. visual depiction of elevation part of humboldt s general insistence data collected presented in way more understood statistical charts. great deal of success in gaining more general readership works understanding has extent or quantity can represented geometrically. statistical projections [charts , graphs], speak senses without tiring intellect have advantage of bringing attention large number of important facts.

humboldt impressed mexico city, @ time largest city in americas, , 1 counted modern. declared no city of new continent, without excepting of united states, can display such great , solid scientific establishments capital of mexico. pointed royal college of mines, royal botanical garden , royal academy of san carlos exemplars of metropolitan capital in touch latest developments on continent , insisting on modernity. recognized important creole savants in mexico, including josé antonio de alzate y ramírez, died in 1799, before humboldt s visit; miguel velásquez de león; , antonio de león y gama.

humboldt spent time @ valenciana silver mine in guanajuato, central new spain, @ time important in spanish empire. bicentennial of visit in guanajuato celebrated conference @ university of guanajuato, mexican academics highlighting various aspects of impact on city. humboldt have examined geology of fabulously rich mine, took opportunity study entire mining complex analyze mining statistics of output. report on silver mining major contribution, , considered strongest , best informed section of political essay. although humboldt himself trained geologist , mining inspector, drew on mining experts in mexico. 1 fausto elhuyar, head of general mining court in mexico city, who, humboldt trained in freiberg. andrés manuel del rio, director of royal college of mines, whom humboldt knew when both students in freiberg. bourbon monarchs had established mining court , college elevate mining profession, since revenues silver constituted crown s largest source of income. humboldt consulted other german mining experts, in mexico. while humboldt welcome foreign scientist , mining expert, spanish crown had established fertile ground humboldt s investigations mining.

spanish america s ancient civilizations source of interest humboldt, included images of mexican manuscripts (or codices) , inca ruins in richly illustrated vues des cordillères et monuments des peuples indigènes de l amerique (1810–1813), experimental of humboldt s publications, since not have single ordering principle opinions , contentions based on observation. humboldt, key question influence of climate on development of these civilizations. when published vues des cordillères, included color image of aztec calendar stone, had been discovered buried in main plaza of mexico city in 1790, along select drawings of dresden codex , others sought out later in european collections. aim muster evidence these pictorial , sculptural images allow reconstruction of prehispanic history. sought out mexican experts in interpretation of sources there, antonio pichardo, literary executor of antonio de león y gama s work. american-born spaniards (creoles) seeking sources of pride in mexico s ancient past, humboldt s recognition of these ancient works , dissemination in publications boon. read work of exiled jesuit francisco javier clavijero, celebrated mexico s prehispanic civilization, , humboldt invoked counter pejorative assertions new world buffon, de pauw, , raynal. humboldt viewed both prehispanic realms of mexico , peru despotic , barbaric. however, drew attention indigenous monuments , artifacts cultural productions had both ... historical , artistic significance.

one of read publications resulting travels , investigations in spanish america essai politique sur le royaum de la nouvelle espagne, translated english political essay on kingdom of new spain (1811). treatise result of humboldt s own investigations generosity of spanish colonial officials statistical data.